Toy



L. H. CLARK Oct. 11, 1955 TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1952 Witness L. H. CLARK Oct. 11, 1955 TOY Filed Sept. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 {Inventor 7 Lama's ILflmk wil'ness United States Patent "cc TOY Lewis H. Clark, Knoxville, Iowa Application September 15, 1952, Serial No. 309,697

12 Claims. (Cl. 35-9) One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a toy that is both entertaining and educational in character.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toy of the above class that can be adapted for educational purposes to children of varying age groups.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a toy as above described in which the type of information that can be utilized through its educational features is limited only by the imagination of parents and others who may prepare the same for use by the children.

Still other objects of my invention are to. provide a toy with the above characteristics that is economical in manufacture, refined in appearance, simple to use, and compact in arrangement.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my toy ready for use,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one type of illustrated card used with this toy,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the signal mechanism of this toy, and taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the card arrangement and taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3, i

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is an electrical wiring diagram showing the simple circuit used in this toy, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another type of illustrated card used with this toy.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally a vertically arranged rectangular box or housing that is open at the back to receive the vertically slidable door 12 which rides in grooves provided in the sides 14 and 16 as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 and is designed to engage and rest on the bottom 18. (Fig. 3). A transverse opening 20 is provided in the door 12 in a suitable place to facilitate the manual moving thereof. The front side 22 of box 10 is designed so that a substantial opening is provided in the lower portion thereof. The interior bottom portion of the housing10 is boxed in to provide a card compartment for receiving and holding a stack of cards such as shown at 24, 26, 27 and 28, and which will later be explained, and for this purpose a partition 30 extends between sides 14 and 16. This partition is spaced slightly inwardly from the front of the box 10 to provide a chamber 31, rises to .a point substantially midway to the top 32 of box 10 and is spaced slightly above the bottom 18 to provide the passageway 34 as shown in Fig. 3. Partition sides 36 6 2,720,038 Patented Oct. 11, 1955 and 38 extend respectively from partition 30 toward the rear parallel to the respective box sides 14 and 16 to a point where they will not interfere with movement of door 12 (Fig. 5). Stub partitions 40 and 42 extend inwardly towards, but not to each other from the rear portion of partitions 36 and 38 so that this interior card compartment is open at the rear to facilitate the placing in and removal from of cards used therein. Partitions 40 and 42 are shorter in height than partition 30 and thus their top edges are spaced below the top 44 of this inner compartment as shown in Fig. 3. The size of this card compartment is determined by the size of illustrated cards used with this toy and preferably I find that cards 3 x 5 inches are the most satisfactory although such dimensions are not intended to be critical.

A playing board shown generally at 46 is designed to serve the additional purpose of a door closure means for the opening in the front side 22 of box 10 and is pivotal ly or hingedly connected to the sides 14 and 16 at the bottom thereof so that it will open outwardly as shown in Fig. 1. In its open position board 46 will rest on the same surface that supports the box 10. When closed, the outer side of door 46 will be flush with front 22, and a finger tip well 48 is provided on the door to facilitate the opening thereof. A nipple 50 or the like on the bottom edge of the front 22 (Fig. 3) may be used to frictionally engage door 46 when closed to hold it against accidental opening.

The playing board 46 when in use will be in open position as shown in Fig. l and thus references hereafter to this board in describing its construction and use will be relative to its open position. Board 46 is provided with a relatively wide groove or channel 52 (Figs. 1 and 6) that extends across the same from front to rear and has the beveled sides 54 so that it is wider at the bottom than at the top. Slidable in groove 52 is the card carrier member 56 that has beveled sides which are complementary to sides 54 in forming a locking means to keep the carrier 56 on the same horizontal plane and also to serve as lateral guides when the carrier is being moved as will be described. Across the carrier 56 transversely of its direction of movement on the board 46 is a card pocket 58 (Fig. 5). Thus arranged, the carrier 56 is capable of being slid into passageway 34 so that all of pocket 58 is within the card compartment above described and the front portion of the carrier is within chamber 31 so that board 46 can be closed. The positioning of the carrier within the card compartment is controlled by the rear beveled edge thereof 59 engaging and being stopped by the closed door 12 as shown in Fig. 3. To facilitate sliding the carrier, a finger grip member 60 is placed on the front thereof and is laterally movable so that it will not interfere with closing the board 46. A spring means 62 connects the carrier 56 to the rear portion of the bottom 18 and for this purpose, the bottom 18 may be provided with a groove 64 and the carrier with the well 66 in which the spring is contained. In this way, spring 62 is intended to return the carrier to the card compartment unless it is held on the playing board 46 by the spring loaded pawl 68 (Fig. 6) at the front of the board which engages the opening 70 in the carrier 56 and which is releasable by moving knob 71. It will be observed that when the carrier 56 is on the playing board and held there by pawl 70, that the board 46 can also be placed in closed position.

One end of board 46 is adapted to contain a push button receptacle 72 that is suspended over a portion of the board 46 from the front toward, but not to the rear thereof and thus forms the slot 74 as illustrated in Fig. 1, and it will be observed that that portion of the surface of board 46 which serves as the bottom of slot 74 is below the horizontal plane of the top surface of the card carrier when in pulled out position. Receptacle 72 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings 76, here shown as four, which extend in line from front to rear and which communicate with slot 74. The upper portion of holes 76 that communicate with the top surface of receptacle 72 are reduced in diameter to provide the annular shoulder 78 as shown in Fig. 4. A strip of spring metal or the like 80 capable of conducting electric current extends through receptacle 72 from front to rear parallel to the top thereof and contains a plurality of spring arms 82 that are spaced apart so that one respective arm 82 registers with the bottom portion of each of the holes 76. The bottom free end of each arm carries a contact nipple 84 and arms 82 are designed to be normally in an upward position. In each opening 76 a push button 86 is mounted so as to protrude upwardly therefrom and these buttons have an enlarged lower portion 88 that moves within the enlarged portion of holes 76. By this arrangement, a downward push on button 86 depresses arm 82 and when pressure on the buttons is released, the spring action of arms 82 moves the buttons upwardly until stopped by shoulder 78. This is a common structure in an electric circuit and no invention is claimed therefore.

A second metal strip 90 is positioned on the surface of board 46 so that it can be contacted by any one of the nipples 84 that are sufficiently depressed as will later be described and a third conductor strip 92 is mounted to the rear bottom portion of receptacle and extends forwardly towards the closest opening 76. Lead wire 94 connects strip 80 to a battery 96 which is suitably mounted in box 10 above the card compartment and battery 96 is further electrically connected in series to a pair of lights 98 and 100 and to a buzzer 102 also above the card compartment. Lead line 104 completes a circuit with lead 94 for operating lights 98 and 100 and buzzer 102 which occurs any time one of the nipples 84 is in contact with strip 90. Lead line 106 completes a circuit with lead 94 for operating light 108 whenever contact is made between strips 80 and 92. Leads 110 and 112 serve to complete the circuits as illustrated in Fig. 7.

Reference is now made to the cards 24, 26, 27 and 28 and to illustrate one form in which these cards can be used with this toy, I have placed on each card a picture or drawing of a different animal or object such as the horse, hen, rabbit and fish. To the right of the object on each card as viewed in the drawing is contained a vertical list of names of difiierent objects with one name on the list correctly identifying the illustrated figure and a hole 116 is provided on each card between the correct word and the end of the card. Also each card preferably carries a strip or band 118 capable of conducting electricity along the top surface at the right side and will contain the opening 116 above described. Cards 24 and 26 showing the rabbit and horse illustrate strip 118, but since the toy can be used without it, Figure 7 illustrates a card not having such a strip.

Thus constructed and arranged, this toy is used in the following manner. Board 46 is placed in open position as shown in Fig. 1 and a supply of cards indicated generally as 120 (Fig. 2) is placed in the card compartment with the illustrated face up, thus placing the holes 116 at the right (Fig. Normally, the card carrier 56 will be'in passageway 34'wl1en not in use, but if it should have been "left in pulled out position, by release of pawl 68, spring 62 will return it there. In this position, the bottom card in stack 120 will drop into pocket 58 which is made deep enough for only one card. The carrier 56 is then pulled out with a card in pocket 58 and to a point where pawl 68 engages opening 70 to position the carrier in its correct position. As the carrier is being pulled out, the right end portion of the card which extends outwardly'from the carrier will pass into slot 74 and since the bottom of slot 74 is lower than 'the top surface of the carrier, this extended portion of the card will in effect sports, etc.

be suspended within the slot so as not to drag on any surface as it is moved. Once the carrier is in set position due to pawl 68 engaging opening 70, the hole 116 on the particular card will register with one of the nipples 84 associated with the push buttons. With the card thus arranged, the child using the toy endeavors to associate the correct word with the illustration and then depresses the push button opposite the word selected. If he is correct, nipple 84 passes through opening 116 in the card, contacts strip and the circuit formed by leads 94 and 104 is closed to sound the buzzer and light up lights 98 and 100. In this respect it will be appreciated that any signal producing means will suflice but to add to the enjoyment of the user, I preferably have used both an audible and a visible signal. And to further intrigue the child, I have placed on the outer side of front 22 a clowns face 122 with the lights 98 and respectively shining through reflectors that serve as eyes on the clown.

If the card used is one containing strip 118 and the child depresses the correct button, the action is the same as just described. However, if the wrong button is depressed, nipple 84 will contact strip 118, which as shown in Fig. 4 will be in engagement with strip 92 so that the circuit formed by leads 94 and 106 is closed to light up light 108 which I have preferably positioned to illuminate a reflector that serves as the nose on the clown face. When a card not having strip 118 is used, a wrong button provokes no response as the nipple 84 would contact the card surface and no circuit would be affected. With the carrier empty, pawl 68 is released and the carrier will return to the card compartment and as this happens, the beveled edge 59 on the carrier will pass under the bottom card on stack and move rearwardly until stopped by the door 12 in which position pocket 58 receives the bottom card and the operation above described is repeated. It is pointed out that board 46 can be closed whether the carrier 56 is on it or in the card compartment and thus the possibilities of damage to this toy are minimized when used by small children who cannot be expected to always put away their toys in any exact manner.

Since it is possible that as the carrier 56 is pulled from passageway 34, the hole 116 might be observed as the card passes through chamber 31, a flexible cover member 124 is placed as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 between the inner end of receptacle 72 and the outer side of partition 30 and thus the holes 116 are concealed from view as the cards are used. To remove a used card from the carrier, a finger tip well 126 is provided on the left side of the carrier so that the card is merely manually lifted and slid out from slot 74.

It will be appreciated that .this toy has educational uses for all childrens age group and can be adapted to as .many forms of instruction and pleasure as the imagination of parents and others will permit. For example, in the cards illustrated, a child must of course be able to read in order to compare the words with the object. However, if the child has not reached the reading stage, then objects or drawings can be substituted for the words, with one of the same corresponding to the larger one so that the child can select the right button merely by visual comparison. As the child progresses, parents can, for example, prepare cards showing arithmetic problems, questions in geography, history, All that is required is a supply of blank cards and some ingenuity so that the use of this type of toy will not become boring and played out.

It is submitted that the invention shown and described is aptly suited to achieve the purposes intended and is characterized by a combination of highly useful and mutually cooperating elements that combine their respective and proportionate functions in accomplishing the objects sought to be obtained.

.Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my toy without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

Iclaim: t i 1. In a toy, a box member having an open portion on one side, a playing board arranged as a horizontal extension from the bottom of said open portion, a first electrical contact means on said playing board, a second electrical contact means on said playing board disposed above and spaced from the first, a plurality of spring mounted push buttons in spaced alignment on said second contact means and each, capable when depressed of engaging said first contact means, a signal producing member in said box member, a source of electric power in said box member, said signal producing member, source of power and contact means electrically connected to form an electric circuit so said signal will be actuated when said contact means are in engagement, a card disposed within said box member and having subject matter thereon to be identified, said card also having a legend of words, objects or symbols with "one of the same corresponding to the subject matter to be identified, said card provided with a hole adjacent the correct designation in said legend, said box member having a compartment for containing a supply of said cards, a card carrier slidable on said playing board into and out of said box member, said carrier when moved into said box member passing under said supply of cards to support the bottom one and to withdraw it from said box when said carrier is withdrawn therefrom, means to limit the withdrawal of said carrier from said box member at a point where the hole in said card registers with one of said push buttons, said hole being then be tween said contact points and not visible to the operator while said legend is visible, and the depression of the push button opposite the correct designation of said legend closing the circuit to said signal producing means by engaging the first contact means through the hole in said card. i

2. A toy as defined in claim 1 characterized by said playing board being hingedly connected at one end to said box member and movable to serve as a closure for the opening therein. i

3. In a toy, a box member having an open portion on one side, a playing board arranged as a horizontal extension from the bottom of said open portion, a first electrical contact means on said playing board, a second electrical contact means on said playing board disposed above and spaced from the first, a plurality of spring mounted push buttons in spaced alignment on said second contact means and each capable when depressed of engaging said first contact means, a signal producing member in said box member, a source of electric power in said box member, said signal producing member, source of power and contact means electrically connected to form an electric circuit so said signal will be actuated when said contact means are in engagement, a card disposed within said box member and having subject matter thereon to be identified, said card also having a legend of words, objects or symbols with one of the same corresponding to the subject matter to be identified, said card provided with a hole adjacent the correct designation in said legend, said box member having a compartment for containing a supply of said cards, a card carrier slidable on said playing board into and out of said box member, said carrier when moved into said box member passing, under said supply of cards to support the bottom one and to withdraw it from said box when said carrier is withdrawn therefrom, spring means connectingsaid carrier to said box member to normally hold said carrier within said box member, releasable means on said playing board for holding said carrier thereon, said last mentioned means also serving to limit the withdrawal of said carrier from said box member at a point where the hole in said card registers with one of said push buttons, said hole being then be tween said contact points and not visible to the operator while said legend is visible, and the depression of the push button opposite the correct designation of said legend closing the circuit to said signal producing means byengaging the first contact means through the hole in said card. 1

4; In a toy, a box member having an open portion on one side, a playing board arranged as a horizontal extension from the bottom of said open portion, an electric switch receptacle on said playing board, said receptacle having a slot in one side extending transversely of the opening in said box member, at least two spring loaded normally open switches disposed within said-receptacle so that the slot is intermediate the respective contact points thereon, a signal producing member and a source of electric power in said box member electrically connected to saidswitches to form a circuit, a card disposed within said box member and having subject matter thereon to be identified, said card also having a legend of words, objects or symbols with one of the same corresponding to the subject matter to be identified, said card provided with a hole adjacent the correct designation in said legend, means for moving said cardfrom said boxmember onto said playing board so that the hole in said card passes into said slot and registers with one of said switches, the hole in said card being then invisible to the operator with said legend being visible, and the operation of the switch'opposite the cor rect designation on thelegend closes said circuit through the hole in said card to actuate said signal producing means.

5. In a toy, abox member having an open portion on oneiside, anplaying board arranged as a horizontal extension from the bottom of said open portion, a first electrical contact means on said playing board, a second electrical contact means on said playing board disposed above and spaced from the first, a plurality of spring mounted push buttons in spaced alignment on said second contact means and each capable when depressed of engaging said first contact means, a signal producing member in said box member, a source of electricpower in said box member, said signal producing member, source of power and contact means electrically connected to form an electric circuit so said signal will be actuated when said contact means are in engagement, a card disposed within said box member and having subject matter thereon to be identified, said card also having a legend of words, objects or symbols with one of the same-corresponding to the subject matter to be identified, said card provided with a hole adjacent the correct designation in said legend, means for moving said card from said box member onto said playing board so that the-hole in said card registers with one of said push buttons, said holebeing then between said contact points and not visible to the operator while said legend is visible, and the depression of the push button opposite the correct designation of said legend closing the circuit to said signal producing means by engaging the first contact mean through the hole in said card. i

6. In a toy, a box member having an open portion on one side, a playing board arranged as a horizontal extension from the bottom of said open portion, an electric switch receptacle on said playing board, said receptacle having a slot in one side extendingtransversely of the opening in said box member, at least two spring loaded normally open switches disposed within said receptacle, a first and second signal producing means and a source of electric power in said box member elec+ trically connected to said switches, separate leads from said receptacle connecting said signal producing means respectively to said source of electric power and each of said leads separately but not simultaneously capable of being engaged by each of said switches to complete a cirmit to one of said signal producing means, a card disposed within said box member and having subject matter thereon to be identified, said card also. having a legend of words, objects or symbols with one .of the same corresponding to the subject matter to be identified, an electricity conductingelement disposed on said card adjacent said legend, said'card provided with a hole in said element adjacent the correct designation in said legend, means for moving said card from said box membe: onto said playing board so that the hole in'said card passes into said slot and registers with one of said switches and with said element engaging one of said leads, the hole in said card being then invisible to the operator with said legend being visible, and the operation of the switch oppositethe correct designation on the legend closing said circuit through one lead through the hole in said card to actuate one of said Signal producing means, and the operation of the switch opposite the wrong designation on the legend relative to the subject matter on the. card closing a circuit through the other lead by contacting said element to actuate the other signal prodncing means.

7.. A device as defined in claim 6 characterized by said box member having a .comical illustration on its external surface and said signal producing means being in the form of lights adapted to illuminate different portions of said illustration.

8, In a toy, a box member having an open portion on one side, a playing board arranged as a horizontal xtension from the bottom of said open portion, an electric switch receptacle on said playing board, said receptacle having a slot in one side extending transversely of the opening in said box member, at least two Spring loaded normally open switches disposed within said receptacle so that theslot is intermediate the respective contactxpoints thereon, a signal producing member and a source of electric power in said box member electrically connected to said switches to form a circuit, a card disposed within said box member and having subject matter thereon to be identified, said card e lso having a legend of words, objects or symbol-s with one of the same corresponding to the subject matter tohe identified, said card provided with a hole adjacent the correct designation in said legend, said box member having a compartment for containing, a supply of said cards, a card carrier slidable on said playing board into and out of said box member, said carrier when moved intoisaid box member passing under said supply of cards to support the bottom one .and to withdraw it from said bQX when said carrier is withdrawn therefrom, means f tohmit the withdrawal of .said carrier from said box member at. a point :where the hole in said card registers with one of said push buttons, saidhole being then between said contact points and not visible to the op: erator while said legend is visible, and the depression oi the push button opposite the correct designation of said legend closing the circuit to said signal producing means by engaging the first contact means through the hole in said card.

9 An educational toy apparatus, comprising, a playing board, a first electrical contact means on said playing board, a second electrical contact means on said playing board disposed above and spaced from the first, a plurality of .springymounted push buttons in spaced alignment on said second contact means and each capable when depressed of engaging said first contact means, a signal producing member, a source of electric power, said signal Producing member, source of power and contact means electrically connected to form an electric circuit so said signal will be actuated when said contact means I are in engagement, a card disposed on said playing board and having subject matter thereon to be identified, said card also having a legend of words, objects or symbols with one of the same corresponding to the subject matter to be, identified, said card provided with a h le adjacent the correct designation in said legend, said hole being then between said contact points and notvisible to the operator while said legend is visible, and the depression of the push button opposite the correct designation of said'legend closing the circuit said signal producing means by engaging the first contact means through the hole in said card,

10. An educational toy apparatus, comprising, a playing board, an electric switch receptacle on said playing board, said receptacle lmvi-ng a slot in one side, at least two spring loaded normally open switches disposed Within said recep acle so that the slot is intermediate the refin d r five contact poin s thereon, a'signal producing member a d a source of electric power electrically connected to ai witche to form a circuit, a card dispo d n said Playing board and having su ject matter thereon to be identified, said card also having a legend of words, 013-. i ct r ym ol wi h one of th same corresponding to he u je t m tter to be identified, said card provided wit a hole. adjacen the corre t designation in said les said h l bcingw thin sai s ot so as to regi ter with one of said sw hes, the hole insaid car being then invisible o th pe with aid leg nd eing visible, and. the operation. f he swi ch opposite he correct desi nation n the l ge d c es sai circ it h ough he hole in said ard to actuate sa d sign l producin m ans.

1,- A e uca io toy app r us, compr sin a p yin ar an le tric swi c e ep le on said p ying board, sa d, r ceptacl ha ing a lo in on side, at least two pring lo ded ormally open wi ches disposed within sai receptacle, a first and econd s g al pr duc ng means and a source f electric P w r e ectr ca ly onnect d to sai wi he pamt v l ads f om s id receptacl con necting said signal producing means respectively to said Source of electric power and each of said leads separ ely but no simul a s y apable of be ng ngaged y ea h of a d switches ommp etc .a cir u t o on of said signal producing means, a card disposed within said box member and having subject matter thereon to be identified, said card also having a legend of words, 0b,- iects or symbol with one of h ome orr p ding to the subject matter to be identified, an electricity conducts ing element disposed on said card adjacent said legend, said card provided with a hole in said element adjacent the. correct designation in said legend, said hole being within said slot so as to register with one of said switches and with said element engaging one of said leads, the hole in said car-d being hen in is bl to t e p rat r th said legend being visible, and the operation of the switch opposite the correct designation on the legend closing said circuit through one lead through the hole in said card to actuat one of s id sign l pr in means, and th p rat n f th switch opp s e he ro g d signa tion on the legend relative to the subject matter on the card clo ing a c rcuit through the o h r l a y ontacting said element to actuate the other signal producing means. 1'

12. A device as defined in claim 1 characterized by said box member having a comical illustration on its ex terual surface and said signal producing means being in the form of lights adapted to illuminate different portions of said illustration. 

